Black Ink-Facilitated Dispersion of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes and Fabrication of MWCNT/Glass Fibre/Epoxy Hybrid Composites

Maintaining, and preferably improving, the structural integrity of glass fibre-reinforced composites based on thermosetting epoxy matrices are of significant interest in a wide range of applications including civil infrastructure. The application of nanoscale reinforcements to the surface of the fibres to improve mechanical interaction with the matrix has gained considerable attention in recent years. In the present study, commercial black ink was used as dispersing agent to disperse pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in deionised water. The MWCNT solution was deposited onto to glass fibre (GF)/epoxy via two different methods: spreading and spraying. The MWCNT loadings, together with the dispersion methods implemented, affected the properties of the composites fabricated. The spreading method was found to be more effective than the spraying method. The flexural strength of the hybrid composite with 0.6 vol % MWCNT loading (CNT0.6) was boosted to 268 and 219% of the 3GF and 4GF values, respectively. The storage modulus of CNT0.6 was increased by 24% compared to 4GF.